Jeremy
A few months ago I knew I was going to move, I just didn’t know where. I knew I wanted to have an easier commute to work but I also wanted to reduce my reliance on my car for regular trips to destinations like the bookstore, coffee shop, park, restaurants, and grocers. After a month of searching I found a place in Baltimore City’s Canton neighborhood that fit my requirements. Now I frequent Patterson Perk for coffee and reading, Patterson Park for jogging, a long list of restaurants for dining, and Safeway for groceries all by walking to them. Even the commute to work has improved since I no longer have to fight against Beltway traffic. The only major drawback is trying to find a parking spot late at night. Apparently the later you arrive home, the longer you hunt for a parking spot but I can live with that.
Photo credit - New York Times
All of these experiences made me think of the thousands of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) employees associated with Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) that are in the process of relocating to Maryland.
- Where are they going to locate in Maryland?
- Will some of them be moving to Canton for the same reasons I did?
- Does it make sense for them to move to Baltimore City?
There is no doubt that Baltimore City officials and organizations are trying to attract future APG employees, as indicated in a September 16th article in the Baltimore Sun “City gives Army workers a neighborhoods tour.”
We all know that choosing your neighborhood is about more than restaurants and shops, it’s also about proximity to schools, universities, and services you and your family need! Towson University has made an effort to assist BRAC residents in their moving process by providing valuable information regarding educational and training programs and veteran services. Additionally, RESI Applied Economics completed the Educational Needs Assessment for the Department of Business and Economic Development associated with BRAC.
To see entire map, click here.
Towson University has also provided BRAC residents with information regarding commuting times to APG from surrounding locations. A little over a year ago, Towson University’s Center for GIS created two drive time analysis maps for the APG-CSSC Regional BRAC Office using ESRI’s Network Analyst extension. The maps illustrate drive times from Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Harford County to surrounding areas a different time scales: one map illustrates drive times at a 5-minute interval while the other illustrates drive times at a 15-minute interval. These maps, along with other information, are available for future APG employees relocating to Maryland during the realignment process.
nice blog